Another interesting chat question

[Bravesfan]

Here's an excerpt from Pat Forde's recent ESPN chat:

Nick (Omaha,NE): Creighton...in or out? Why?

Pat Forde: Nick: Tough, tough call. As a Missouri Valley administrator told me, a team from a Top 10 RPI conference with 26 wins has never been left out of the dance. And winning 11 in a row in that league is impressive. But the blowout loss to Illinois State really hurts. It's hard now to take Creighton ahead of ISU, since the Redbirds were 2-1 against the Bluejays and blew them out twice. I think Creighton and ISU will be among the last few teams either in or out.


No it isn't. Head to head, ISU was better than Creighton. But ISU finished in THIRD place, three games behind Creighton and did not have enough other impressive credentials to make it the tourney on their own.

The only way ISU makes it is along with Creighton, not by themselves. Not likely that will happen though.

[Bravesfan]

but isn't everyone telling us that RPI no longer matters that much, and conferences don't get bids, and 26 wins is far less of an accomplishment nowadays because of all the extra games you get in exempt tournies.
So if there was ever such a team with 26 wins, Creighton is that team to get snubbed.

Anyway, 26 wins isn't as impressive when you look at who they played...Arkansas-Pine Bluff,
Mississippi Valley State, Northern Colorado, Southern, Fresno, and (gasp) DePaul!!
Nine 200+ RPI teams, and TWO that were 330+ RPI teams!

Yes, but Creighton has better wins than ISU (Dayton, George Mason and one against ISU), and finished first. I'm not even taking into consideration their RPI or even number of wins.

Like I said before, if South Carolina with a 1-5 record against the RPI top 50 gets in ahead of Creighton with a 3-2 RPI top 50 record, there should be some serious questions asked regarding the committee's reasoning. I'm not picking on S. Carolina here, but more people seem to have SC in just by their association with the SEC. Not all, but some.

[SFP]

Well I believe the SEC will not get to many teams in this year period. The SEC is extremely weak and talk about a down year. SC nor ISU wil be in the dance.